He said: “It was an eye opening visit for me to spend time in the hospital as a nursing assistant, helping to care for frail and elderly patients. I was tasked with serving patients the lunchtime meal and cleaning the commode, and throughout my visit I was impressed by the diligence, care and enthusiasm with which the staff undertook their duties.”

The East Surrey MP added: “East Surrey Hospital has turned a corner, and today is meeting or exceeding its clinical targets. After my time on the ward, I met with chief financial officer Paul Simpson to discuss the unannounced Care Quality Commission inspection the day before, and the challenges of managing a district general hospital at a time of increasing demand. It is great to see that the Hospital has a clear plan moving forward, and to continue improving the service provided to our community.”

Mr Simpson said: “As the local MP for many of our patients, Sam wanted to come and experience for himself what our wards are like so that he could more easily understand and talk to his constituents about the hospital. It’s also good to have another volunteer providing a helping hand on our wards.”